PM Illustrated: A Visual Learner’s Guide to Project Management
- Do you wish preparing for your PMP® exam was more fun?
- Are you fed up with boring textbooks?
- Like to see the big picture?
“PM Illustrated: A visual learner’s guide to project management” shows you how the various elements that make up the PMP® exam fit together. Using mindmaps and illustrations, the entire syllabus is explained with memorable graphics and cartoons to boost recall and shorten your study time.
Based on the content of the PM lllustrated.com website created by Mike Griffiths, best-selling author of the PMP-ACP® exam study materials. Fully updated for the July 2026 exam change with AI, sustainability and M.O.R.E. content.
So, stop the highlighting and note-taking. See the big picture of the new exam curriculum. Learn concepts quicker – visually with better recall and retention.
Beyond Agile: Achieving Success with Situational Knowledge and Skills
Beyond Agile is for project practitioners, PMOs, and
business representatives who want relevant, high-
value delivery guidance. The book presents a model
that provides a context-specific approach from a
full spectrum of project disciplines including:
lean/agile, leadership/EI, plan-driven, and industry-
specific approaches.
Unlike scaling models such as SAFe, LeSS, and
Nexus, the Beyond Agile Model avoids agile-myopia
(believing everything can be solved best by agile
approaches) and buffet-syndrome (taking on too
much process) by being simultaneously broader but
ruthlessly selective in its recommendations.
The Beyond Agile Model has agile at its core; it also layers in additional ideas while encouraging teams to discontinue practices that no longer add sufficient value. Since there are only so many hours in the day, focussing more effort on delivery requires dropping other activities – even if they are agile. It was obvious once I saw it. The most productive teams I studied spent more time delivering and less time on agile ceremonies and other tasks. The non-obvious part was learning what to drop since it varies from team to team, and the book explains the process
I wrote this book to help people prepare for
and pass their PMI-ACP certification.
Having worked on the design of the PMI-
ACP credential I knew the exam tested a
multitude of concepts drawn from domains
such as leadership, lean, kanban and agile
approaches. So, I wanted to create a source
that explains all the ideas in a single
consistent voice.
Alistair Cockburn and Dennis Stevens, who I
worked with on the PMI-ACP Steering
Committee, generously wrote the following
endorsements:
“As one of the authors of the Agile Manifesto, I am delighted to see this book by Mike Griffiths. It is great that such an exam guide was prepared by someone with a deep understanding of both project
management and Agile development.
Personally, I hope that everyone reads this book, not just to pass the PMI-ACP exam, but to learn Agile development safely and effectively!” –
Dr. Alistair Cockburn, Manifesto for Agile Software Development Co-Author, International Consortium for Agile Co-Founder, and Member of the PMI-ACP Steering Committee
“This is a VERY enjoyable book to read, due to Mike’s firm grasp of the underlying concepts of Agile, and his articulate and entertaining writing style. My favorite part is the fact that it is organized into a framework that helps all of the Agile concepts hang together, so they will be easier to recall when taking the PMI-ACP exam. But Mike’s book is more than just the best PMI-ACP prep book out there. It is also the best consolidated source of Agile knowledge, tools, and techniques available today.
Even if you are not planning on sitting for the PMI-ACP exam in the near future you need to buy this book, read it, and keep it as a reference for how to responsibly be Agile!”
Dennis Stevens, PMI-ACP Steering Committee Member, PMI Agile Community of Practice Council Leader, and Partner at Leading Agile
This updated Third edition has new situational questions and is appropriate for study for all PMI-ACP exams taken after the November 2024 exam change.
Agile Illustrated
This book shows you how agile approaches work with images that illustrate the core components of the agile mindset and agile team behaviors.
It covers the Agile Mindset, the four Agile Manifesto Values, and the twelve Agile Principles. It shows each of the six principles from the Declaration of Interdependence for Agile Projects and illustrates each of the 62 Servant Leadership Tasks covered in the PMI-ACP exam.
Ideal for executives looking for a quick overview of what it means to create and foster an agile mindset. Perfect for Scrum masters and servant leaders looking for a summary of the desired behaviors and everyday tasks required to support teams as they deliver exceptional customer value.
See Agile in action. “Agile Illustrated: A Visual Learner’s Guide to Agility” shows the agile mindset and behaviors in use on agile teams. Servant leadership traits are illustrated through mind-maps and cartoons, accompanied by short descriptions. A soup-to-nuts illustrated overview of agile in 70 colorful pages.
Agile Fundamentals
Many people told me that my PMI-ACP Exam Prep book was the best overview of agile approaches they had ever read. So, I took out the exam preparation material and sample exercises to create “Agile Fundamentals,” a streamlined guide to agility.
Agile Fundamentals breaks down agile in a way that makes it easy to understand and practical to follow. As one of agile’s leading practitioners, Mike Griffiths takes complex concepts and not only simplifies them but makes the reading fun and easily relatable.
Whether you’re new to agile or just looking for an essential desk reference, Agile Fundamentals: A Comprehensive Guide to Using an Agile Approach is the perfect introduction to all things agile.
Arranged alphabetically by topic, the PMI-ACP® Workbook covers the top concepts in the PMI-ACP exam with no additional fluff.
Great for creating your own prioritized study plan,
complete with Kanban board for tracking
progress, this is for topic based
learners. Here is the publisher description:
“This hands-on workbook by Mike Griffiths is a great addition to the PMI-ACP® Exam Prep family of products. Whether you’re new to agile methods or an
experienced practitioner, this hands-on
workbook is ideal for action-oriented, practical learners.
Experienced agilists or Scrum masters: This workbook is designed to be the only tool you’ll need to prepare for the exam.
New to Agile Methods? This workbook will reinforce the key topics you need to know for the exam, (but you’ll also want the PMI-ACP® Exam Prep book and other products available.)
- Design your own study plan
- Decrease study time by focusing on your weak areas
- Over 200 exercises and situational quiz questions
- FREE online quiz!”